Pak N-weapons a strategic concern: Mullen

Amid growing global concerns over Pakistan's nuclear weapons falling in the hands of the Taliban, the top US military official on Monday said it remains a "strategic concern" but the atomic arsenal of Islamabad are secure as of now.

Amid growing global concerns over Pakistan's nuclear weapons falling in the hands of the Taliban, the top US military official on Monday said it remains a "strategic concern" but the atomic arsenal of Islamabad are secure as of now.

Acknowledging that the possibility of Taliban gaining access to nuclear weapons is a "strategic concern" for the US, Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said he is comfortable that the (Pakistan's) military leadership is capable of dealing with that particular issue right now.

"I don't think that's going to happen. I don't see that in any way imminent whatsoever at this particular point in time. But it is a strategic concern that we all share," Mullen said.

"Pakistani leadership and in particular the military is very focused on this (nuclear weapons)," he said, adding: "I remain comfortable that the nuclear weapons in Pakistan are secure."

As the US has invested about USD 100 million in helping Pakistan secure nuclear weapons, Mullen said: "I'm comfortable, because I know what we've done, over the last three years specifically, to both invest, assist, and I've watched them improve their security fairly dramatically for the last three years."